God The Father Almighty

There is one and only one God, as He expressed
through the prophet Isaiah: "I am God, there is no other; I am God, there
is none like me." (Isaiah 46.9) God exists eternally
and His nature does not change. He is omnipotent
(all powerful). All creation is created,
sustained, and perpetuated in Him. "'I am the Alpha and the Omega', says the Lord
God, 'the One Who is and Who was and Who
is to come, the Almighty.'" (Revelations 1.8)

God progressively revealed Himself in the
history of humanity through the people if
Israel. "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the
Lord alone!" (Deuteronomy 6.4) He revealed the
mystery of His name to Moses: "I AM who am." (Exodus 3.14) Jesus confirmed His
identity as One with God: "Jesus said
to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham
came to be, I AM.'" (John 8.58)

Throughout its history, humanity has
searched
for the meaning of its existence. Some
attributed
the mystery of what could not be understood
to "the gods", submitting
themselves
to unknown powers, perhaps motivated
by fear
of the unknown or the desire to control
what
they could not. Others deified the
passions
which instinctively flowed from within
them,
and in doing so, allowed their hearts
to
be enslaved by their desires. Both
of these
approaches find their origin in the
self
and not in God. It is from God that
human
existence flows and not vice-versa.

It is from God that all life flows, and it
is through the love of God that His life
flows through us. The presence of idols -
anything we consider more important than
God - blocks the flow of His life to us and
leads us away from Him. The greatest commandment
was given to God's people in ancient times
and confirmed by Jesus: "Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your
God, with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6.5) Striving to love
God with our whole being allows no room for
anything to come between us and God.

To Moses, God revealed His character: "The Lord passed before him and cried out,
"The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and
gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness
and fidelity, continuing his kindness for
a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness
and crime and sin; yet not declaring the
guilty guiltless." (Exodus 34.6-7) St. Paul declared
Jesus to be: "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of
God." (1 Corinthians 1.24) St. John declared:
"God is love" (1 John 4.8) and that "God so loved the world that he gave his only
Son, so that everyone who believes in him
might not perish but might have eternal life." (John 3.16)

God's character is summarized in one word
in the Creed: almighty. The Creator of all
has not left His creation to evolve on its
own; He actively sustains its life from moment
to moment. Through the prophet Isaiah, He
explained His role in the events of our lives
and in the world: "At the beginning I foretell the outcome;
in advance, things not yet done. I say that
my plan shall stand, I accomplish my every
purpose." (Isaiah 46.10) This plan is His will.
His will for us is, above all, rooted in
His mercy, as Jesus said: "it is not the will of your heavenly Father
that one of these little ones be lost." (Matthew 18.14) The Almighty knows
what we need, what is best for us, and He
provides this for us. The most effective
way we can live is to strive to always be
in accord with His will. Jesus advises us
to "Seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides." (Matthew 6.33) Even in the depths
of our most difficult tribulations, God is
with us. In our weakness, we draw our strength
from His power, and we trust in the words
declared by the angel Gabriel to Mary, that
"nothing will be impossible for God." (Luke 1.37)

Through Jesus, we are able to approach
the
almighty God as "Our Father"
(Matthew
6.9) St. Paul assures us that we can
approach
Him as a loving Father with confidence:
"As proof that you are children, God sent
the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying
out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Galatians 4.6)

This poem expresses the love with which
the
almighty Father holds His children.

Father Of Merciful Love

Our God is One and only One
In Him, all being has its source;
Apart from His love, there is none
Who can sustain us on our course.

To Moses, the Lord God revealed
His power, glory, and His name:
Through ages past, He had concealed
His name - Yahweh - "I AM who
am".

The Father's love exudes mercy:
We are His children through His Son;
He calls us home and sets us free
To live in Him - our salvation.

He provides for our ev'ry need;
Safeguards us with His mighty hand;
Any sin, His grace will exceed --
Our lives can unfold as He planned.

In the Father, our trust is placed;
By His mercy, all sin's effaced.

Holy Spirit, help us adore
The Father, whose almighty love,
Draws us to love Him from our core
-
In all, may our hearts look above.
Amen.